Breath Alkanes in Bovine

"This project will test the feasibility of a breath alkane as an indicator of respiratory health in bovine. Significant losses due to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) occur in the U.S. beef industry with estimated annual losses at $1 billion due to higher medical costs, decreased weight gain, lower quality meat and death. BRD is highly transmittable and accounts for approximately 75% of morbidity and 50% of mortality in feedlots. A rapid and sensitive diagnostic method for BRD is not currently available and none of the currently used methods of evaluating for respiratory disease are capable of early detection or mass screenings."